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City Golf: Popp on top with 18 to play

By Matt Langone, mlangone@lowellsun.com

Posted:
06/22/2014 06:58:21 AM EDT

George Popp tees off on the eighth hole at Long Meadow in front of partners Gary Walshe (left) and Stephen Parise during Day 2 of the Lowell City Golf Tournament. Popp shot 3-under 69 to grab the tourney lead. SUN/JULIA MALAKIE

LOWELL -- It was moving day at the 89th Lowell City Tournament on Saturday, and the man sometimes referred to as "the greatest player never to win the thing" made his charge.

Vesper's George Popp has come close to getting his hands on championship hardware at the Cities before -- several times, in fact. And once again, the 52-year-old is in prime position after shooting a 3-under 69 at Long Meadow Golf Club.

With a two-round total of 145, he will take a one-shot lead into Wednesday's final round at his home course of Vesper Country Club.

Defending champ Shawn Scott (146) is right there breathing down Popp's neck after firing a 74 on Saturday.

A large number of spectators enjoyed the beautiful weather at Long Meadow Golf Club Saturday and got to see some outstanding golf, as well. SUN/JULIA MALAKIE

Popp followed up a first-round 76 at Mount Pleasant with a superb display of golf. He hit nearly every green in regulation en route to posting the tournament's only round in the 60s thus far. Popp hopes it ultimately leads to his breakthrough victory at the Cities.

"I would say that there is always pressure in this tournament," Popp said. "Whether you're a player that has won eight or 10 times, or you're one of the other players. It's fun to play in front of the home crowds, and that adds a little pressure. But I have to go out and continue to play my game. I've been playing pretty steady. If I can do that and post a good score, we'll see what happens.

"Vesper will most likely not have a number of low scores.

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If I can go out and shoot 1-under, even, 1-over -- I think the most important thing is to play solidly and give myself some chances at birdie. If I make a few, then that will take the pressure off."

Popp will play with Scott and Walker in Wednesday's final group (2:30 tee time). Ten-time champ Parigian, Gentle and eight-time champ Smith will go off at 2:20.

Scores were lower than in Round 1, as 29 of the 48 players in the field shot below 80. Popp figured it would be that way.

"(Friday) I was a little disappointed. I finished a little bit sloppy at the end," said Popp, a former UMass Lowell hockey player. "I knew that I had to play a pretty good round (Saturday) to get back in it. I played steady, made a couple of putts that were a little bit fortunate. I got myself back in it, so I'm very happy with the outcome.

"I didn't have to scramble too much. The couple of times that I did, I was able to recover from it. I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens."

Popp set the tone early with a 34 on the front nine, sending a message that players would have to go reasonably low to avoid falling far behind.

Scott, a 17-year-old Tyngsboro resident and Bishop Guertin graduate, sits in seventh place at 151, just six strokes back.

Vesper is Scott's home course, but he missed the City Tournament qualifier at Vesper due to his high school graduation. He then opted to play for Mount Pleasant, where he is also a member.

"It feels great. The greens were a little tough, but I made a couple of putts," said Scott, who will play at UMass Lowell. "I'm plenty of shots back, but Vesper is my home course, so I have a chance to shoot pretty low. If I shoot low, anything can happen, I guess."

Devitt is a first-time Cities player. The Lynn native rebounded nicely from a first-round 83. In his first time playing Long Meadow, he made four birdies and four bogeys.

"It was steady. I just put everything in play and never put myself in trouble," said Devitt, who is 10 shots off the lead. "The superintendent did a great job getting the course ready.

"I want to show well in this tournament. I play in a lot of senior tournaments around the country and I want to do well here. This puts me back in the hunt going home. Vesper will play tough and that will be a good test of golf."

The 62-year-old Devitt moved from Massachusetts to Palo Alto, Calif., in 1993 for his career in technology. He makes his residence in Scottsdale, Ariz., during the winter and lives in Concord in the spring/summer.